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Lithoman Joined: 7/14/2007 Location: Statesboro,GA Posts: 5	Posted: Aug/03/2009 8:43 AM PST Im trying to figure out what causes growth from the bottom of a tree. New branches start coming out of two small dogwoods and a crepe myrtle, and look very healthy, maybe even better than the upper part of the tree. Weve had a reasonable amount of rain here and these trees were here when I bought this house going on 4 yrs ago. Attachments: Quote \| Reply \| Report

Ryan Joined: 5/31/2008 Location: Virginia Posts: 791	Posted: Aug/03/2009 9:40 AM PST This can happen when the trees get stressed. Just cut those off. Ryan Quote \| Reply \| Report

told2b Joined: 9/12/2006 Location: Northern, NJ Posts: 8368	Posted: Aug/03/2009 10:01 AM PST Lichens are not harmful to trees. But if they suddenly appear it is an indication that something has gone wrong with the tree. If you can, prune off some of the suckers with some roots and plant them in a holding area in case the main tree is a goner. Clear some of the earth away from the roots and see if water is indeed getting down there. Did you use a string trimmer around the tree? Nicks to base of tree could cause wounds and the tree will send out new growth in response. Also gnawing from small animals would produce the same results. Take your fingernail and scrape one of the leafless branches. If you see green it's still alive, if it's brown, it's a dead branch. Also, call your local extension agent and ask for (free) help. Quote \| Reply \| Report

Ryan Joined: 5/31/2008 Location: Virginia Posts: 791	Posted: Aug/03/2009 10:04 AM PST I agree. Are the trees mulched? That one doesn't look like it is. If the other ones are, make sure the mulch is not touching the trunk of the tree, but goes around it. It could also be that the trees are dying and this is a last effort attempt to stay alive and it is using up its last growth to stay alive. Quote \| Reply \| Report

Lithoman Joined: 7/14/2007 Location: Statesboro,GA Posts: 5	Posted: Aug/03/2009 10:18 AM PST The growths were there last year too. On the dogwoods anyway. Im gonna cut them off and make sure the cover around the base isnt too high and see what happens. Thanks guys!...David Quote \| Reply \| Report

ga_girl Joined: 8/02/2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 1156	Posted: Aug/03/2009 11:52 AM PST The dogwood with the bark missing looks bad - I would expect it could die out completely at the top eventually. Agree that suckers are caused by stress or damage. Some trees are more susceptible to suckering than others even in the absence of stress or damage. Crape myrtle is one of those. Quote \| Reply \| Report

Lithoman Joined: 7/14/2007 Location: Statesboro,GA Posts: 5	Posted: Aug/03/2009 4:05 PM PST yea, im kinda holding my breath on that one. It looks like its just hangin on. Quote \| Reply \| Report

cougar Joined: 8/24/2008 Location: Kentucky Posts: 1184	Posted: Aug/05/2009 5:27 AM PST I 'm real glad I read this post. Wondered the same thing about the suckers. Pertaining to my own. Good info. Quote \| Reply \| Report

karslinky Joined: 8/28/2004 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 1197	Posted: Aug/05/2009 11:02 AM PST Are Magnolia Bettys prone to suckers too? I am constantly trimming suckers out mid-summer, but the tree itself looks beautiful. Quote \| Reply \| Report

ga_girl Joined: 8/02/2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 1156	Posted: Aug/05/2009 1:04 PM PST Magnolia 'Betty' is a hybrid between two shrub form asian magnolia. One parent in particular, M. stellata, is known for being a multi-stem shrub. This multi-stem growth habit is probably what you are seeing as suckering. Quote \| Reply \| Report

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